In amongst all the health scares, family issues, and other life stresses on the board, I thought I'd share some good stress.

I'm an artist. I've been working for the last few years at a variety of events, never quite figuring out a good path to success. This year I've changed focus to my fantasy work, and started applying to renaissance festivals. I thought it would take a couple years to get ramped up. The bigger faires are juried, and I'd heard it could take years to get a permanent shop.

This year has been amazing. A few short months after beginning this new journey I have a perfect permanent shop at one big festival near the jousting field, a relative stepped up to finance it, I'm a guest vendor at another, and am now purchasing a beautiful period pavilion to apply to some more. The pavilion is basically the best in the business, it was only used twice, the colors are perfect for my use, and its much cheaper because its not new. I have a ton of people pulling for me, and hoping to work for me.

I'm really stressed, and really excited! I alternate between worrying about this working out and dancing around the house like I've just won the lottery. All these incredible things seem to be falling in my lap, and while I know that logically its my work and preparation allowing me to be ready to jump at these opportunities, it feels sort of magical. And terrifying.

Whew! So, wish me luck, and if you like renaissance festivals, I'll let you know where and when I'll be.

I'm really stressed, and really excited! I alternate between worrying about this working out and dancing around the house like I've just won the lottery. All these incredible things seem to be falling in my lap, and while I know that logically its my work and preparation allowing me to be ready to jump at these opportunities, it feels sort of magical. And terrifying.

Anyone else would jump up and thank Jesus Christ for blessing his/her life with such abundance of blessed gifts!

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John 14:2 :: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Excellent! I've never been to a Renaissance Fair but it's something I always figured I'd go to eventually. Count me in! I got a Chinese brush painting book from B&N with a gift card I got for my birthday. Art is good for stress relief.

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It doesn't make sense to let go of something you've had for so long. But it also doesn't make sense to hold on when there's actually nothing there.

Wow! What fun and exiting news. I've also never been to a Renaissance Fair, but some friends of mine are fans, and take their daughter to one in NJ every year. And I think that there is another one here in NYC in the Cloisters?

Hey, all of this sounds great. But what medium do you work in? Chain mail?

I'm really happy for you. Joust 'em dead with your art, m'lady.

Thanks everyone!!!

I'm a quilt artist, making original quilts with dragons, faeries, and other mythical creatures on them. Wall hangings, bed quilts, bags ... that sort of thing. In addition to them being my original designs, there are very, very few quilt artists doing the ren faire circuit, so hopefully I'll do well. So far I've had a very good response.

Here's a full size dragon quilt ...

« Last Edit: July 21, 2013, 11:57:58 PM by Traveler »

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If we ever travel thousands of light years to a planet inhabited by intelligent life, let's just make patterns in their crops and leave.

what the hell is that big square box with the glass front in the background? an antique microwave?

LOL! Thanks Neo!!! I photographed that at my neighbor's house. I did a photo of the quilt with the tv covered up, but this was what I had on photobucket. Guess I should poke around and find the better pic, eh? LOL

ETA: Pic replaced.

« Last Edit: July 21, 2013, 11:58:30 PM by Traveler »

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If we ever travel thousands of light years to a planet inhabited by intelligent life, let's just make patterns in their crops and leave.

LOVE the dragon quilt!! I have a friend who would kill for something like that. How much do you charge for them?

By the way, I'm something of an artist as well, but have yet to figure out a niche, other than I do fairly well on and off (depending on how ambitious I'm feeling) with submarine-themed work, since my husband is in the Navy. I really don't enjoy painting submarines all that much, though, hence the ambivalence.

I just took a weekend portrait-painting workshop with a really amazing artist, though. It was a great experience, since I'm basically self taught, and although I can draw pretty well, I struggle with color a bit. Plus, I have not done portrait work with anything like regularity for a good 25 years, and it reminded me how much I used to love doing it.

Congratulations on your success so far, and hope you continue going on to bigger and better things. If that quilt is any indication, you certainly deserve it!